HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-12-21, Page 13THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017. PAGE 13.
New ornaments every year for Ritsema-Teeninga tree
A longstanding tradition
Every year, Yolanda and Paul Ritsema-Teeninga carry on a
tradition their parents started with them: giving a new
Christmas ornament to son Landon and daughter Kenzie.
This year will be no exception with the childred receiving a
Nutcracker ornament and a ballet ornament, respectively.
(Photo submitted)
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Christmas at the Ritsema-
Teeninga home focuses on traditions
passed down one family to the next
as well as new family practices.
Yolanda Ritsema-Teeninga, North
Huron councillor for the Wingham
Ward who works for Compuexcel, a
consulting and training company
based in Mississauga, and her
husband Peter who is a welder for
Maitland Welding and Machining,
have brought some of the traditions
they enjoyed as children into the
lives of their eight-year-old son
Landon and five-year-old daughter
Kenzie.
"I remember fairly clearly, when I
was growing up on a 40 -acre farm
near Teeswater, that my father,
brother and I would walk to the back
of the property and cut a Christmas
tree every year, bring it back and
decorate it," she said. "We would
listen to Kenny Rogers and Dolly
Parton and my mom would make us
baked goods to snack on while we
worked.
"Every year we got a new
ornament as well to put on the tree,"
she said.
She said that, not living on a farm
any longer, the tradition has changed
a bit, but the heart of it remains the
same.
"We go out and get a tree and I do
get my children a new ornament
every year," she said. "I try and tailor
it to whatever they are interested in
that year."
She said this year Landon has
taken an interest in The Nutcracker
and Kenzie is interested in ballet, so
their ornaments reflect that.
"I try to do some Christmas
baking so we have snacks and we do
a family afternoon of putting up the
tree, decorating it and having some
treats," she said. "It's very similar to
what I did as a child and yes, we do
still listen to Dolly and Kenny.
She said that Peter's family
practised some of the same
activities, including the new
Casey Boven and family
Blyth 519-523-4757
ornament every year, which he is
happy to carry forward.
While those traditions have
carried on, the Ritsema-Teeninga
family is also forging ahead and
creating its own practices and
cherished memories.
Yolanda said that Peter's family
typically would get together and
sing Dutch songs to celebrate
Christmas, which they still do at
extended family Christmases, but for
Christmas Day, the celebration has
become about immediate family.
For example, when she was
younger her family would open gifts
to and from each other on Christmas
Eve then attend a church service
Christmas Day after opening gifts in
their stockings and from Santa
Claus. They would then spend time
as a family. Her family, however,
goes to church on Christmas Eve and
sets aside Christmas Day until
dinner for immediate family.
"We wake up, I make brunch and
we open our presents and celebrate
Christmas together," she said. "We
then go out to my parents' farm later
on in the day."
The family attends Maitland River
Community Church and Peter is
especially active within the church
community, being in the church
band.
"He usually is involved in a
musical celebration or drama
production at the church around
Christmas," Yolanda said.
Christmas is also an educational
opportunity for Peter and Yolanda's
children, as she explains how one
new tradition shows Landon and
Kenzie the importance of
remembering those less fortunate at
the holidays.
"Every year I take my children
shopping for a gift they would enjoy
to give to the Christmas bureau," she
said. "I want to make sure they know
the importance of giving and making
Continued on page 15
yir
HAIR SALON
4
I wish you all a happy holiday season.
My sincere thanks for your goodwill and loyalty throughout the
past year. I look forward to serving you in 2018.
Gift Certificates Available
Holly Dauphin
687 Elizabeth St., Brussels 519-887-8989
Best wishes for a happy,
healthy Christmas and New Year
to all who generously gave to the Wingham & District Hospital Foundation in 2017.
•
•
• •'..
•
.•
11110,4 •
R
"Thanks to you, friends, f_ amily•and our whole community :'
will 'receive the. gift of health ,for years to come.'
You've`niade a difference for your Hospital ThankiYou!'
tt • 111 • filV,N, 44-11.• • •
4* .
fi
Holidays from your friends at the WDH
dation: Ian Montgomery, Chairperson,
George Miller, Russ Taylor, Gord Baxter, Lisa
Hearn Wingham i lis nden, Andy McBride, Jenny Hogervorst, II
im,k Hospital Foundatio
•
s
Happy
•
Foun
Peg Lockridge, and Nicole Jutzi.
s
•
Wishing all our friends, customers and neighbours
a very Merry Christmas
and all the very best for the coming New Year.
Thank you for your business this past year,
we look forward to serving you in the future.
Dave, Lisa, Patrick & Rochelle
Dave 7a4er2
CONCRETE FORMING
COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL
• Foundations • Floor Finishing
• Circular Tanks • Sandwich Walls
FREE ESTIMATES
RR #3 Blyth
519-523-9971
•
•